uTorrent download notification in PushBullet + python

1. Create API key on PushBullet site under account settings

2. Install pushbullet.py

3. Create a file called push.py with the following:


import sys
from pushbullet import Pushbullet

api_key = "API_KEY"
pb = Pushbullet(api_key)
pb.push_note("Downloaded", sys.argv[1])


4. In uTorrent preferences, enter "push.py" %N in run this program after a torrent finishes


** See how to run in a batch with other programs

PotPlayer: MUCH better alternative to VLC/MP-HC

I used to use VLC and Media Player Home Cinema (MP-HC) as external players for Kodi/XBMC.

Both of those have their short-comings:

MP-HC: When playing videos at a faster speed, subtitles get out of sync. And sometimes the audio as well, depending on the file.

VLC: Gives me gray screens when playing at a faster speed or fast forwarding on >= 720p files. I tried a bunch of solutions but nothing worked.


Enter PotPlayer. Works fantastically, without the above listed issues!

Hard drive stress test (setting up new computer)

Full test: Western Digital Lifeguard Tools

1. Run an extended test
2. Write zeros
3. Run another extended test

Do a quick format

Run a surface test: Macroit Disk Scanner


** Tests can take several hours depending on size of drive

uTorrent WebUI causing high CPU usage

After upgrading to the latest version of utorrent (3.4.5), I noticed a big spike in CPU usage and unresponsive desktop GUI when uTorrent AutoLabeller (uAL) was on.

When I turned it off, the desktop client became responsive again when I closed uTorrent Autolabeller, and the CPU usage went down as well.

After fiddling around for a bit, I realized this only really becomes an issue if the uAL is monitoring uTorrent to stop/remove completed torrents.
Changing that setting to "N" fixed the issue.


* In order to remove torrents automatically, I have it set to run a script after the torrent finishes.
uTorrent > Options > Preferences > Advanced > Run after torrent finishes.
This causes a high CPU usage as it accesses the same WebUI url but it's for a brief period in time till the script finishes running.

The issue seems to be with WebUI.

bookmarklet to nuke elements from page

Drag this link (Nukeit) to your bookmarks bar.


It will allow you to easily remove unwanted elements from the webpage.

Not mine. Grabbed from somewhere on the interwebs

A simpler readability bookmarklet

than the (slower) official one

Drag this bookmarklet (Readability) to your bookmarks bar



UPDATE: Readability has shut down it's service.
An alternative is to set up your own readability clone

Flatten windows directory structure

My car stereo system allows for playing mp3 files off of a USB stick. When mp3s are in subfolders, it makes it difficult to jump songs predictably. Easiest way around it is to flatten all mp3s under a single folder.

I found this post describing how to use powershell to do it. Here is what I'm using for my own reference:

(ls -r -include *.mp3) | % { mv -literal $_ $_.Name}

TP-Link Archer C8 wired bridge / access point

Finally decided to replace the Apple Time Capsule with a better router because of the many issues.

I replaced it with the TP-Link Archer C8. TP-Link Archer C8 does not have a bridge mode. The unofficial way to do it seems to be:

1. Connect internet cable modem/router ethernet cord to one of the LAN ports. Don't connect anything to the WAN port
2. Change Archer C8 LAN IP address to one on the cable modem/router's subnet.
   If the cable modem/router is 192.168.0.1, set the Archer C8 to 192.168.0.2
3. Disable the DHCP
4. Reboot